216 



under the direction of Colonel Colby, Mr. Airy, by whom they 

 have been ably discussed in a paper recently printed in the Philoso- 

 phical Transactions, observes, that * extent of time alone appears 

 wanting to render them the most important series of tide-observations 

 that has ever been made.' Among the results to which Mr. Airy has 

 arrived, is the remarkable one, that in the harbour of Courtown, on the 

 coast of Wexford — ' the only place on the earth in which such a result 

 has been distinctly obtained,' — the Solar Tide exceeds the Lunar. 

 Such a result as this, affords not only encouragement to fresh exertion, 

 but also direction as to its application. 



"Another, and most interesting subject of research, which this 

 Academy might direct, if not undertake, is that to which attention has 

 been recently drawn by Mr. Mallet, — the movements of the Earth's 

 crust, whether convulsive and paroxysmal, or gentle and regular. The 

 phenomena of Earthquake shocks in Scotland have been systematically- 

 observed for the last five years, at the instance of the British Association, 

 and yearly reports of the results have been made, and published in its 

 Proceedings. Although there appears to be nothing in this country 

 analogous to the local movements at Comrie, in Perthshire, still there is 

 no doubt that Earthquake shocks have been felt here ; and that more 

 refined methods of observation would detect numberless others, which 

 wholly escape the cognizance of the unaided senses. 



" These, and many other investigations, connected with the Physical, 

 the Physiological, and the Monumental history of Ireland, appear to be 

 fitting subjects, if not for the direct labours of this Academy, at least 

 for its encouragement. Science has a right to demand such histories of 

 local phenomena from the representatives of Science in each portion of 

 the civilized globe, and shall this Academy be deaf to the call ? 



" Gentlemen, — I have, at the outset of these remarks, noticed 

 the moral, as well as the intellectual benefits, which result from the 

 union of different mental powers, such as this Academy presents, 

 combined in the investigation of different portions of Truth. But 

 there is a yet higher principle, to which this union may lead us — a yet 

 holier temper which it may inculcate ; I mean the contemplation of 

 Truth itself as essentially one, under its many and diversified forms, 

 and tlie habit of tracing all its varied and refracted rays to its One 



